Amitabh is India's superstar: Thackeray

"...It is improper to drag him into needless controversy of regionalism," says Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna.

Two days after an article in Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna criticised Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan, party chief Bal Thackeray on Monday sang a different tune calling Bachchan a "superstar of the entire country".

"Amitabh is not just star of one particular state, but the superstar of the whole country. Hence it is improper to drag him into needless controversy of regionalism," Thackeray said in an editorial on Monday.

In a front page article two days back, Saamna had praised Tamil superstar Rajnikanth, who had his early life in Karnataka, for his stand on the Hogenakkal issue and said it had "dwarfed" Bachchan when it came to taking a firm position on issues relating to Maharashtra.

Thackeray distanced himself from the remarks the same day saying it was not his views and that the actor was a family friend. In Monday's editorial, Thackeray made it clear that irrespective of what the Saamna article had said, he had high regards for Bachchan.

The editorial also took a swipe at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati for "harassing" Bachchan by raking up trivial issues and said this "is worthy of contempt".